Why AMD is leaving Nvidia unchallenged in laptop GPUs for 2025

AMD’s position in the laptop GPU market has been a longstanding challenge, with Nvidia maintaining a near-monopoly in the segment. As we move into 2025, the situation appears unlikely to change, with AMD’s RDNA4 architecture focusing squarely on desktop graphics cards. While there are prospects for mobile GPUs in the future, the company’s current strategy leaves the laptop GPU space dominated by Nvidia’s GeForce lineup.

VS: And do you see prospects for RDNA 4 laptops going ahead? Unfortunately, the number of AMD dGPU-based laptop SKUs have been pretty anemic.

Ben: Our current graphics strategy is focused on the desktop market with RDNA 4. So, I think you’ll see those types of products first in the future. Certainly, RDNA 4 and future graphics technologies will make it into mobile, whether they be on APUs or future products.

Ben Conrad – AMD Director of Product Managment for Premium Mobile Client (via Notebookcheck)

AMD shifts focus to desktop GPUs with RDNA4

In an interview with Notebookcheck, Ben Conrad, AMD’s Director of Product Management for Premium Mobile Client, confirmed that the RDNA4 architecture is being developed primarily for desktop platforms. He added that while mobile versions of the technology might emerge, they would likely be integrated into APUs rather than released as discrete GPUs. This continues a trend for AMD, which has struggled to make significant inroads into the laptop GPU market despite the popularity of its Ryzen CPUs.

AMD’s current mobile GPU lineup includes integrated solutions like the Radeon 800M, featured in the Ryzen AI 300 series, and the Ryzen Z2 GPUs for handheld devices. However, the company has no immediate plans to launch RDNA4-based discrete GPUs for laptops. As a result, gamers seeking powerful laptop GPUs will need to look to Nvidia, which is poised to release its RTX 50 series later this year.

AMD’s discrete laptop GPUs, such as the Radeon RX 7000M series, have seen limited adoption. These GPUs are largely reserved for ultra-premium gaming laptops or external GPU enclosures, leaving them inaccessible to mainstream consumers. This lack of competitive options further cements Nvidia’s dominance in the gaming laptop market.

AMD pauses RDNA 4 launch to outsmart Nvidia

RX 9000 series faces pricing challenges

AMD’s upcoming RX 9000 series has also encountered setbacks, with pricing and launch dates raising eyebrows. Initially, the RX 9070 XT was set to debut on January 23, priced at $900, while the RX 9070 non-XT was expected to cost $750. These prices placed the cards closer to Nvidia’s high-end RTX 5080 than the mid-range RTX 5070, raising concerns about their competitiveness.

Retailer leaks, including one from Bulgarian retailer Gplay (via VideoCardz), suggest that AMD may need to rethink its pricing strategy. The RX 9070 XT is rumored to offer performance comparable to the RX 7900 XT, which originally launched at $900 but has since dropped to around $650. Given this context, AMD’s pricing strategy could hinder the RX 9000 series’ market reception.

The delays in the RX 9000 series’ launch have also created uncertainty. AMD now plans to release the GPUs in March, potentially positioning them against Nvidia’s RTX 50 series. This timing could make it challenging for AMD to gain traction, especially if the cards are priced at the higher end of the market.

Red Devil RX 9070 XT Limited Edition (Image: PowerColor via VideoCardz) Long-term strategies and market dynamics

Looking ahead, AMD has hinted at future innovations that could reshape its GPU lineup. The company is reportedly working on the UDNA architecture, which aims to unify RDNA and CDNA technologies for AI and machine learning workloads. This aligns with broader industry trends, as Nvidia’s upcoming Blackwell architecture also emphasizes AI capabilities.

Despite these long-term plans, the immediate future remains challenging for AMD in the laptop GPU market. Nvidia’s RTX 50 series is expected to dominate, while Intel’s Battlemage architecture is also focusing on desktops, leaving Nvidia with little competition in the discrete laptop GPU space.

Meanwhile, AMD’s integrated GPU solutions, such as the Radeon 8060S within the Ryzen AI 300 series, continue to evolve. AMD claims that the 8060S can rival Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 4070 laptop GPU, but integrated solutions alone are unlikely to sway gamers seeking high-performance laptops.

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